The Map is Not the Territory

What began in the summer of 2023 as a hastily scribbled list—jotted down in the midst of Castle Gardens’ quiet allure—gradually evolved over six months into a kind of map. While it centres on the historically significant gardens, its reach extends to the Market House (now the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum) and Lisburn Cathedral, St. Nicholas’.

As I delved deeper into the gardens’ history, tracing dates and details, I found that this knowledge, while enriching, began to dull the enchantment of my initial experience. So, I stepped back from factual precision and turned instead to capturing the spirit of the place—its character and vitality—through a more pictorial lens.

Though loosely anchored in geography, my creation is meant to serve as both guide and enigma—a map whose twists and turns wander through both time and imagination. By embracing a playful interpretation of the park’s landscape, I’ve woven symbolism and metaphor into its form, allowing the stories it holds to breathe freely, unbound by the constraints of traditional maps or timelines.